Looking at relocating and the area I am currently exploring is mainly black dirt.  Any recommendations (other then don't do it) as to how to maintain a riding area for home work.  I don't work them hard at home its more for slow work to fix an issue are just riding seasoned horses to keep moving.   Thanks

Bump

Honestly, I wouldn't do much to it other than keep it worked if it's truly GOOD black dirt.  Nothing better!   Good Black dirt is loamy and won't turn into hard little balls and will stay loose.  You could add some sand if you don't want a complete mud pit when it rains. 

Now if it's more clay-ish type dark dirt, then I would add more sand to it and work it in to keep it loose and keep it from turning into hard little rolly polly clay balls.  

Plain good black dirt is what I prefer.

Where I board currently, they just have a small disc that they work it with. Honestly, they don't work it enough BUT that good black dirt will NEVER be slippery and the disc rips it deep enough that you won't get a hard pan. I even did some slow work on the barrels last week and the ground had NOT been worked since last fall, after sitting under snow, and it was just fine.

So as long as you have something to work it with now and then, good black dirt requires very little maintenance.